August 2026 Honoree
Giavanna Lupi, RN
From the moment we arrived at CHOP with our son, Giavanna has been our nurse every single day. And in one of the most terrifying seasons of my life as a mother, she has been nothing short of extraordinary.
My son has been in severe pain. He is strong-willed, strong-bodied, and he has fought every procedure with everything in him. He almost peed on her. He thrashed. He cried. He resisted. And through it all, Giavanna remained steady.
What people don't always see is that nurses are often the ones who have to cause temporary pain in order to bring healing. They are the ones holding down tiny hands. The ones changing dressings. The ones cleaning wounds. The ones standing in the line of fear and discomfort so our children can get better. And that takes a special kind of heart.
I come into hospitals guarded. I carry personal history that makes me cautious. I watch closely. I do not give trust easily when it comes to my children. Giavanna earned it.
She didn't just perform tasks. She communicated. She explained. She listened to me. She saw me - not just as "mom," but as a human being sitting in fear, praying over her son. She never minimized my concerns. She never rushed my questions. She made me feel heard, supported, and respected.
And then something beautiful happened. When my son began to feel just a little better - just enough to play - I watched her shift. She laughed with him. She engaged him. She became safe in his eyes. Watching my son, who had been through so much pain, light up when he saw her walk in the room... that did something to my heart.
It reminded me that compassion is not a skill you can train into someone. It is character. What Giavanna carries is natural. It is who she is. In a place where families are experiencing some of the worst moments of their lives, she brings steadiness, warmth, and humanity.
She doesn't just provide nursing care - she brings comfort to entire families. She has made this hospital stay feel survivable. She deserves to be recognized, celebrated, and elevated. If leadership wants to know who embodies the heart of this hospital, it is her.
I will never forget the way she showed up for my son - and for me - during this season.
My son has been in severe pain. He is strong-willed, strong-bodied, and he has fought every procedure with everything in him. He almost peed on her. He thrashed. He cried. He resisted. And through it all, Giavanna remained steady.
What people don't always see is that nurses are often the ones who have to cause temporary pain in order to bring healing. They are the ones holding down tiny hands. The ones changing dressings. The ones cleaning wounds. The ones standing in the line of fear and discomfort so our children can get better. And that takes a special kind of heart.
I come into hospitals guarded. I carry personal history that makes me cautious. I watch closely. I do not give trust easily when it comes to my children. Giavanna earned it.
She didn't just perform tasks. She communicated. She explained. She listened to me. She saw me - not just as "mom," but as a human being sitting in fear, praying over her son. She never minimized my concerns. She never rushed my questions. She made me feel heard, supported, and respected.
And then something beautiful happened. When my son began to feel just a little better - just enough to play - I watched her shift. She laughed with him. She engaged him. She became safe in his eyes. Watching my son, who had been through so much pain, light up when he saw her walk in the room... that did something to my heart.
It reminded me that compassion is not a skill you can train into someone. It is character. What Giavanna carries is natural. It is who she is. In a place where families are experiencing some of the worst moments of their lives, she brings steadiness, warmth, and humanity.
She doesn't just provide nursing care - she brings comfort to entire families. She has made this hospital stay feel survivable. She deserves to be recognized, celebrated, and elevated. If leadership wants to know who embodies the heart of this hospital, it is her.
I will never forget the way she showed up for my son - and for me - during this season.
Thank you, Giavanna, for your exceptional compassion, advocacy, and dedication to your patients. You truly make a difference.
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